Mal Moore remembers John Mark, Stallings family
August 04, 2008
Mal Moore didn’t have to come to the Bryant-Denny Stadium press box and talk about John Mark Stallings. But he wanted to.
Alabama’s athletics director was a student at Alabama when John Mark was born 46 years ago.
“He was quite an ambassador for the university when he was here and I said in a previous statement that no coach, no player, nobody has ever had an effect on people as much as he has,” Moore said of the man who was born with Down syndrome.
Moore said he will head to Texas and be with the Stallings family. He talked about his admiration for Gene and Ruth Ann Stallings and their love for John Mark. He also noted how they have helped many people cope with the same struggles and fears over the years. Remember, there wasn’t an internet in the early 1960s and support groups were few and far between.
“I have always felt from my years with coach Stallings how people who have found themselves in the same situation have seeked advice from coach Stallings and how he has helped so many people throughout his career. He was always available and supportive of families that were in the same situation as John Mark. And I think that coach Stallings will be remembered here a long time, but he will be remembered stronger for how he handled John Mark and supported him throughout is life because I think he made a difference.
“Ruth Ann, too. Ruth Ann was unbelievable as a parent and we all have great memories of that.”
Moore also remembered that John Mark was tremendous with names.
“I have a hard time with names myself,” he said. “John Mark, you could go to him any time and he would help you out with who was who. It was an unbelievable gift for names and remembering people. When I would talk with him on the phone, he would always ask about Heather and ask about Steve, my son-in-law and ask about the children. He had quite a gift there.
“I’ve heard coach Stallings say many times, he and Ruth Ann would be riding down the road and couldn’t remember anyone’s name, and would turn to John Mark and he would tell them right off.”
Visitation is today from 6 to 8 p.m. at Starrett Funeral Home located at 425 South Church Street in Paris, Texas. The funeral service will be held on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Lamar Avenue Church of Christ located at 3535 Lamar Avenue in Paris, Texas. Burial will follow at the Stallings’ Hike-A-Way Ranch.
For more information, contact the Starrett Funeral Home in Paris at 903-784-4333.
